It was a glimpse into the future of regional transportation Oct. 3 as Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) hosted the Envision 6 Transportation Fair at Shannon Mall. For those weary of mounting traffic congestion in Fayette and Coweta counties, there is little end in sight since most of the solutions are years away.

Plans were divided into projects expected to be completed during the next five to six years and those considered long range, with completion dates anticipated between 2011-2030. Plans are susceptible to factors such as funding and adjustments by Georgia Dept. of Transportation.

Major projects for Fayette for the near term include four-laning of Ga. Highway 74 from south of Crosstown Drive to Ga. Highway 85 with a completion date expected in 2009. The first segment of the $31.5 million East Fayetteville Bypass from South Jeff Davis to Ga. Highway 54 is expected to be open in 2012. Opening an anticipated three years later will be the $56 million remainder of the east bypass, extending from Hwy. 54 north to Ga. Highway 85. Also on the ARC’s books for completion in 2008 is the $4.1 million TDK Boulevard Extension

Out into the future is to expand to four lanes of Hwy. 85 from Hwy. 74 to Hwy. 92, scheduled to be completed in two phases in 2020, the West Fayetteville Bypass from Sandy Creek Road to the intersection of Redwine Road and Harp Road, the four-laning of Crosstown Drive from Hwy. 74 to Peachtree Parkway in 2020 and the new Sandy Creek Road Extension from Hwy. 74 to Palmetto road.

Much further into the future for Fayette near 2030 are projects turning Ga. Highway 92 into four lanes from McBride Road to the intersection of Hwy. 92 and Jimmy Mayfield Drive, the four-laning of Collinsworth Road from I-85 to the Town of Tyrone in 2030.

A number of bridge upgrades are slated for Fayette in coming years. Those include the Hwy. 74 bridge at Flat Creek, the Hwy. 85 bridge at Whitewater Creek anticipated to be complete in 2010, the Coastline Road bridge at Whitewater Creek in 2010, the Inman Road bridge at Gay Creek in 2008 and the McIntosh Road bridge at the Flint River at the Spalding County line.

Roadway projects in Coweta County show a mix of anticipated completion dates, with many coming during the long range between 2010-2030.

In the short term, plans for the Ga. Highway 34 Bypass show the installation of four lanes in the $14.7 million project coming in three phases with an expected completion date of 2009. A new 1.6-mile stretch will be constructed from U.S. 29/27 Alt to Turkey Creek Road. Another near-term project, the $6 million upgrade along the 9.8-mile stretch of Lower Fayetteville Road from Greison Trail to Fisher Road is expected to be complete in 2007. Also in the near-term, Ga. Highway 16 will be widened to four lanes from I-85 to U.S. 29 by 2009 at a cost of $1.3 million.

Long term projects include construction of the two-lane Amlajack Boulevard Extension, to be completed in 2016. The one-mile road is forecast to extend from Shenandoah Industrial park to a proposed I-85 interchange. The McIntosh Trail project is expected to be completed in 2020, providing four lanes along a 3.88 mile stretch from Hwy. 54 to TDK Boulevard Extension. Also up for four lanes is Collinsworth Road from Weldon Road to Palmetto city limits. The .96-mile project is expected in 2030. Another new project planned for completion in 2030 is the East Washington Street Extension, a two-mile roadway running from Farmer Street to the Newnan Crossing Bypass. Rounding out the list in 2025 is the 7.3-mile expansion of I-85 to six lanes from U.S. 29 to Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway.

Bridge upgrades in Coweta will include the Hwy. 74/85 bridge between Hwy. 16 and Seavy Street expected to be completed in 2010, the Hwy. 74/85 bridge at the CSX line between Old Hwy. 85 and Hardy Road in 2008, the Hwy. 54 bridge at Shoal Creek in 2012, the Hwy. 54 bridge at Line Creek in 2009, the U.S. Highway 27 Alternate at the Chattahoochee River in 2008, the Green Top Toad bridge at CSX railroad in 2015 and the Cannon Road bridge at White Oak Creek in 2015.

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